Hwy Congress St over Water South River
Essex County, Massachusetts · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Hwy Congress St over Water South River in Essex County, Massachusetts, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1917 and reconstructed in 1996, making it 108 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 11,720 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2024).
- Its listed owner is a city or municipal highway agency.
- It is one of 270 of the 397 inventoried bridges in Essex County rated fair (68.0%); 66 (16.6%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- It was rated good in the 2024 inventory and is now fair (deck 7 to 6, substructure 7 to 6).
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated September 2024, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- A fair rating means the lowest-rated major component scores 5 or 6 on FHWA's 0-9 scale: some deterioration or minor section loss, but the structure is sound. It is the middle class, not a warning.
View this bridge on a map → (42.51936, -70.88974)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous prestressed concrete multiple box beam |
| Length | about 134 ft |
| Location | at South River |
| NBI structure number | S010042QEMUNNBI |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | September 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 8: foundations stable, scour above the top of the footing |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Massachusetts department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Essex County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 93 over ST213 WB | 1959 | 186,800 | Fair |
| I 93 over Hwy Dascomb Rd | 1957 | 145,580 | Fair |
| I 93 over ST213 EB | 1959 | 144,946 | Fair |
| I 95 /ST128 over I 95 Ramp J | 1988 | 144,936 | Fair |
| I 95 /ST128 over Hwy Main St | 1948 | 143,473 | Fair |
| US 1 Newbrprt Tpk over I 95 /ST128 | 1963 | 140,655 | Poor |
All bridges nearby: Essex County, MA bridge conditions · every bridge in Essex County · Massachusetts bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.